Washing machine dispenser



April 16, 1963 J. F. OLES WASHING MACHINE DISPENSER Filed Feb. 12, 1958 Q 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOSEPH F EILE5 HTTDHNEY April 16, 1963 J. F. OLES WASHING MACHINE DISPENSER Filed Feb. 12, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JnsEPH E EILES April 16, 1963 J. F. OLES WASHING MACHINE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 12, 1958 INVENTOR. JOSEPH. F. OLES.

ATTOR N EY of Delaware Filed Feb. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 714,803 10 Claims. (CI. 68-17) This invention relates to automatic washing machines, of the agitator centrifugal extraction vertical axis type, and more particularly to the dispensing of liquid treating agents in such machines.

In automatic washers of the type shown in Leach, No. 2,813,413 issued Nov. 19, 1957, a sequence or cycle of washing operations are provided for such as a wash period followed by centrifugal extraction of the wash water, after which there is an agitate-d rinse operation, followed by centrifugal extraction. It is often desirable to introduce a liquid treating agent into the rinse water automatically, without requiring attendance at the machine subsequent to the initiation of the wash cycle. It is also desirable, for example when a soak operation precedes the washing operation, to provide means to introduce soap into the tub, at the time the washing operation commences without requiring attendance at the machine subsequent to the initiating of the soak-wash cycle.

Various proposals employing reservoirs and timer controlled valves have been made, which are diflicult to locate so as to afford gravity flow, and are generally inaccessible for filling, and necessary frequent cleaning. Other proposed apparatus tends to block access to the wash tub and requires removal of the treating apparatus for loading or unloading of the tub.

The present invention is adapted to utilize the space within the central column of an agitator, to store and retain, and deliver at the desired time, a charge of liquid treating agent, the delivery being dependent upon a sequence of operations, including the high speed rotation of the agitator during centrifugal extraction which immediately precedes the operation in which the treating agent is to be used.

' beneath the agitator. Still further, the cups are disposed so as to be subject to a flushing action by being positioned in respect to the normal wash water level within the surrounding tub, to thereby receive wash water for effecting cleaning in the normal cycle of washing.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a washing machine showing diagrammatically the relationship of the parts;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the agitator, with the cap screw shown in section, and taken in the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

{United States Patent 3,085,417 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 ice FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper part of the agitator showing the liquid treatment cups, and taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line l -4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the broken section lineS-S of FIGURE 6 of the dispenser mounted on the center post;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the dispenser taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view through the agitator taken on the line 7-7 and showing a bottom plan view of the dispenser.

Referring to the drawings there is indicated an automatic washer having a cabinet 10, and comprising an outer stationary tub 12, centrifugal extraction tub and wash tub 14, an'agitator 16 and concentric driving shafts for the agitator and tub, 18 and 20, the latter being tubular. The tub 14 is provided with a hollow center post 22, aifixed thereto, through which extends the agitator drive shaft 18. The extraction tub 14, has an outwardly flaring wall 15, and discharge ports 17, while the tub 12. has a drain 13. The tub 14 may have a small sludge drain port 11, and may utilize recirculation of wash water through a filter action as shown in application of Olding Patent No. 2,971,362 issued February 14, 1961 in which case the drain 13 is provided with a valve.

The upper end of the agitator drive shaft 18 is provided with a flat side 19 and a drive block 24, the latter having a polygonal tapered exterior surface 26 for reshank 39 threaded into the end of the shaft 18. The cap forms a seal across the upper end of the sleeve, that is normally air tight, when the cap is screwed down to hold the agitator securely on the drive block.

Within the column 30 and around the center post, there is disposed a pair of annular cups or receptacles 40 and ,42, which are joined together at their upper ends as at 43. The inner receptacle has an inside wall 44 adapted to clear the hollow center post 22, and an outside wall 46 that is inclined outwardly and upwardly, terminating in an upper somewhat annular lip 48. The outwardly inclined wall is flared sufiiciently to cause liquid contained in the cup to be discharged over the lip 48, on rotation of the receptacle at centrifugal extraction speeds.

The outer receptacle has a downwardly and outwardly flared wall, 50 that closely fits within and conforms generally to theinside wall of the hollow agitator column. The lower end of the flared wall is provided with an annular conical inwardly and downwardly extending lip or flange '52, that terminates short of the centerpost 22. At the upper end of the cup 42, the wall 50 extends radially inwardly as at 54, and thence downwardly, to join with upper inner edge of the receptacle as at 43. The lower flange 52 of the receptacle 42 may be a separate member, joined to the wall 50 as at 56.

The upper end 37 of the agitator is provided, between two adjacent webs 60 and 62 with an aperture, into which is inserted a plastic sleeve or fill spout 66. The inwardly extending wall portion 54 of the outer receptacle 42, beneath the spout, is provided with an integral nipple or sleeve 68 adapted at its upper end to telescopically couple with the lower end of the spout '66. The sleeve 68 projects downwardly below the Wall 54, and terminates as at 70, below the lip 48 of the receptacle 40.

The inwardly extending wall portion 54 is provided with an annular seal ring flange 72, and seal ring '74, which engages the lower end of the hub sleeve 34, to form an annular seal therewith. The lower end of the outer receptacle is provided with an annular seal ring 76, which engages the inside wall of the agitator column with a downwardly inclined lip 78, which may be adapted to engage the inside wall of the agitator so as to support the receptacles and seal off the space between the agitator-column and the wall 50.

The inside wall of the outer cup is provided with groups of internal stiffening ribs 80 extending lengthwise, and between groups, the lip 48 is distended outwardly as at 82 so as to provide overflow spouts, as Well as to clear the lower end of the sleeve 68 below the fill spout. The intervening ribs provide a clear passage for the overflow from the inner receptacle upon centrifugal discharge, and permit the centrifugal discharged fluid to travel down the wall of the outer receptacle for retention by centrifugal force in the lower annular region as at 83.

The seal 74 coacts with the sleeve 34, which is sealed: by the cap 38, and the wall 44 to trap air between the center post 22 and wall 44, so as to provide an air bell effect, and prevent wash water from rising to the upper end of the center post 22. It will he understood that the wash water level within the tub may exceed the level indicated by the line L, and the shaft 18 where it emerges from the upper bearing end of the center post 22, and that it is desirable to protect the hearing from wash fluid. At the same time the seal 78 prevents wash water from entering between the wall 50 and agitator column, and thus keeps this region clear of soapy deposits.

The lower end of the inlet sleeve 68 is located sufliciently below the lip 48, so that treatment fluids in container 40 will not be washed or flushed out of the receptacle during washing. The lip 48 is further set a little below the approximate normal wash water level in tub 48, which is indicated at L and established by the apertures 17. Once the receptacle 40 is filled to the level of the lower end 70 of sleeve 68, a seal is effected, against the further rise of liquid in the outer receptacle 42, by reason of the air trapped in the region indicated at 90, air escape through the fill sleeve 68 being cut off by the liquid level within the receptacle 40, above the lip 7 0.

In practice the cup 40, is filled, or partially filled with liquid soap, if a pre-soak operation is to be used, or with water softeners, or other liquid-s used in the treatment of fabrics during the rinse operation, if the cycle of operation is to include the usual wash operation, and extraction followed by rinsing, with brief overflow. In either case the operation is substantially the same. After the cup 40 is partially filled with a liquid agent, the tub 1-4 fills, for example, to the level L or higher. Tubwater enters beneath the agitator and rises along post 22, entering the outer receptacle 42, and rises therein. If the cup-40, was partially filled, some tube water may overflow the lip 48 and tend to fill the cup 40, but once the lower end 70 of the sleeve 68 is covered no further dilution in cup 40 can occur, and the liquid contained therein, is retained during the wash action, since the agitator and cup 40 merely oscillate during such wash operation at agitation speed. If a recirculation filter system is used during washing which maintains the level in the Wash tub, at or above the level L, the air lock in region 90, prevents harmful dilution or loss of the contents of cup 40. The smooth inside walls of the cup 4th however, do not agitate the liquid within the cup, or cause any perceptible loss of treatment agent by reason of the oscillatory movement of the cup. The fact that the cup is of considerable depth and of short radius assists in preventing any loss due to the oscillatory disturbance. In practice, the level of the sealing lip 70, is sufficiently below the overflow lip 48, so that any rippling of the liquid surface from oscillatory disturbance, is insuflicient to cause loss.

When the wash operation is completed, the oscillatory agitator motion is stopped, and the tub 14 and agitator 16 are accelerated together to the extraction speed. A small amount of tub wash water may be caught within the outer receptacle 42, depending on the downward declining angle of the lower end or flange 52 and other factors, upon acceleration of the tub and agitator, but the volumetric capacity of the receptacle 42 is sufficient to hold the entire discharge of receptacle 40 in addition to any small quantity of wash water that may be caught. Discharge from receptacle 40, in any substantial quantity does not take place until the speed of rotation has increased sufiiciently to lift the contents from the relatively deep well, itbeing understood, that the depth of the cup, the radius of the outer wall 46, and the inclination or flare thereof can be so correlated as to delay the complete emptying of the cup 40 until a predetermined speed of rotation is exceeded.

Once the contents of cup 40 has been transferred to the outer cup 42, it is retained therein until the extraction of the wash Water is complete, and the tub and agitator decelerates, whereupon the liquid agent spills from the cup 42, into the tub- 14, where the agent mixes with the incoming rinse water. In overflow rinsing, the water level in the tub rises to the level L and also to the level of the overflow apertures 17 of tub 14. Accordingly, rinse water enters the cup 42 and as soon as it rises above the level of the overflow lip 48 of cup 40 rinse water spills over into the cup 40, filling the same to the level of the lip 70. During such agitated rinse, oscillation of the agitator and cups 40 and 42 provides a cleansing operation, and when the rinsing operation is completed, the final centrifugal extraction and spinning of the tub and agitator clears the cup 40, by transferring its contents to cup 42, and on deceleration the cup 42 drains into the bottom of tub 14 and out of the small port 11, if provided, and in any event without wetting the clothes, which are compacted against the outer side wall 15 of the tub.

It will thus be seen that the dispenser is self cleaning and requires not attention, other than filling through the convenient fill spout at the time each wash cycle is initiated. The cups are readily molded from plastic, and the joints 43 and 56 are readily made between the respective parts. The cup assembly is readily removed from underneath the agitator, upon removing the agitator from the drive block. The dispenser is out of the way, automatically cleans itself, and is positive in its action, in supplying whatever treatment agent is desired, after the first centrifugal extraction.

In the form shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, the dispenser comprises an inner cup 140, an outer cup 150 having a lower discharge lip 152. The inner cup is adapted to be mounted on the center post 22, an offset 161 being provided to engage the upper end thereof. The discharge lip 152 is provided with a plurality of spacing lugs 153 which engage the center post. At the upper end of the dispenser, there are provided a number of strengthening ribs 145, and an annular funnel-like filling conduit 177, the lower annular discharge edge 179 of which extends below the discharge lip 148 of the inner container, to form an air bell and seal, when the inner container is filled to the level of or above the edge 179'. The dispenser may be made in three parts joined and sealed together as at 156 and 143. The funnel will be seen to extend over and overlie the cup to form the air bell when the lower end 179 is closed by the liquid level in the inner cup.

The fill spout 166, mounted in the agitator hub end extends downwardly into the funnel and terminates short of the rib 145. In the form shown thedispenser only rotates, when the tub rotates, it appearing that the agitator 30, which oscillates during wash, is spaced from the outer wall of the outer cup of the dispenser, sufliciently to adequately clear the same. The fill spout 166, while moving with the agitator during washing will be employed to fill the inner dispenser cup, prior to commencing the wash or soak cycle, at which time the agitator is not in motion.

The operation of the form shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 is similar in all respects to that shown in FIGURES 14, with the advantage that the dispenser does not oscillate, eliminating all turbulence that might result in slight spillage.

Although a single embodiment of the invention with provision for mounting in different ways has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic washer treatment agent dispenser, an angularly oscillating agitator having a hollow central lumn closed at the top and flaring outwardly and downwardly and open at the lower end, an annular upwardly facing cup mounted within said column having an outwardly flared outer wall terminating in a centrifugal discharge rim at the'upper end thereof, an annular inwardly facing cup having an open bottom disposed within said column and around said first named cup and said rim,

and conduit means extending through the column Wall for filling said upwardly facing cup, said conduit means terminating below and inwardly of the rim of said upwardly facing cup.

2. In an automatic washer treatment agent dispenser, an agitator having a hollow central column closed at the top and open at the lower end, an inner upwardly facing cup mounted within said column having a centrifugal discharge rim, an annular inwardlyfacing outer cup disposed within said column and around said first named cup and the rim thereof, the upper end of said outer cup being closed and the lower end open to form an air bell, and a fill conduit for said inner cup extending through the upper end of the agitator and into said inner cup and terminating below and spaced inwardly of the rim thereof.

3. In a centrifugal extractor and oscillatory agitator type washing machine, the combination of, a center post, an agitator drive shaft extending upwardly therethrough, an agitator afiixed to the upper end of said shaft and having a hollow column open at the lower end depending around said center post in radial spaced relation thereto, an annular inwardly facing channel sectioned outer cup mounted on the inside wall of said agitator column, said cup having an upper inwardly extending flange and a lower downwardly inclined flange having an inner edge spaced from said center post, an inner annular upwardly facing cup mounted inwardly of said inwardly facing outer cup and disposed about said center post in spaced relation thereto, said last named cup having an outer upwardly extending and outwardly flared wall terminating in a discharge lip disposed within the channel cup near the upper end thereof and an inner wall extending upwardly above said lip and joined in sealed relation to said upper flange of the first named cup, and a fill spout conduit for said inner cup extending through said upper flange and terminating within said inner cup below the lip of the outer wall thereof.

4. In a centrifugal extractor and oscillatory agitator type washing machine, the combination of a center post, an agitator drive shaft extending upwardly therethrough, an agitator affixed to the upper end of said shaft and having a hollow column open at the lower end depending around said center post in radial spaced relation thereto, an annular inwardly facing channel sectioned outer cup mounted on the inside wall of said agitator column, said cup having an upper inwardly extending flange and a lower inwardly and downwardly inclined flange terminating short of said center post, an inner annular cup mounted inwardly of said inwardly facing outer cup and disposed about said center post in spaced relation thereto, said last named cup having an outer upwardly extending and outwardly flared wall terminating in a discharge rim disposed within the channel cup near the upper end thereof, said rim having outwardly for-med discharge lips uniformly spaced around the rim periphery extending to the outer cup, an inner wall extending upwardly above said lip and joined to said upper flange of the outer cup in sealed relation, and a fill spout for said inner cup extending through said upper flange and terminating in said inner cup below and radially inward of one of the lips of the rim of the outer wall thereof.

5. In a centrifugal extractor and oscillatory agitator type washing machine, the combination of a center post, an agitator drive shaft extending upwardly therethrough, an agitator having a hub at its upper end atfixed to the upper end of said shaft and having a hollow column open at the lower end depending from said hub around said center post in radial spaced relation thereto, means coacting with said shaft to seal and secure said hub thereto, an annular inwardly facing channel sectioned outer cup mounted on the inside wall of said agitator column, said cup having an upper inwardly extending flange and a lower inwardly and downwardly inclined flange having an inner edge which is spaced from said center post, an inner annular upwardly facing cup mounted inwardly of said inwardly facing cup and disposed about said center post in spaced relation thereto, said last named cup having an outer upwardly extending and outwardly flared wall terminating in a discharge lip disposed within the channel cup near the upper end thereof and an inner wall extending upwardly above said lip and joined in sealed relation to said upper flange of the first named cup, a fill spout for said inner cup extending through said upper flange and terminating in said inner cup below the lip of the outer wall thereof, and an annular-seal disposed radially inwardly of said spout and coacting between the outer wall of one of said cups and said hub.

6. In a centrifugal extractor and oscillatory agitator type washing machine, a centrifugal extraction wash tub having a center post, an agitator drive shaft extending upwardly through the center post, an oscillatory agitator affixed to the upper end of said shaft and having a hollow column depending around said center post in radial spaced relation thereto, an annular inwardly facing channel sectioned cup mounted on the inside wall of said agitator column, said cup having an upper inwardly extending flange and a lower downwardly and inwardly inclined flange the inner edge of which is spaced from said center port, an inner annular cup mounted inwardly of said inwardly facing cup, and disposed about said center post in spaced relation thereto, said last named cup having an outer upwardly extending and outwardly flared wall terminating in a discharge lip disposed within the channel cup near the upper end thereof, an inner wall extending upwlardly above said lip and joined to said upper flange of the first named cup in sealed relation, a fill spout for said inner cup extending through said upper flange and terminating in said inner cup below the lip of the outer wall thereof, and overflow means for said tub located above said lip.

7. In an automatic washer of the vertical axis centrifugal extraction and agitator type, a spin tub having a hollow center post, an agitator shaft extending through the center post, an agitator mounted on the upper end of said shaft and having a depending hollow column overlying said center post in radial spaced relation, an annular upwardly facing cup aflixed to said center post having an outer discharge rim, and an inwardly facing open bottom cup surrounding said upwardly facing cup and rim and adapted to receive centrifugal overflow from said inner cup, said cups lying in the space between said center post and hollow column.

8. In an automatic washer of the vertical axis centrifugal extraction and agitator type, a spin tub having a hollow center post, an agitator shaft extending through the center post, an agitator mounted on the upper end of said shaft and having a depending hollow column over-' lying said center post in radial spaced relation, an annular upwardly facing cup afiixed to said center post having an outer discharge rim, an inwardly facing open bottom cup surrounding said upwardly facing cup and rim and adapted to receive centrifugal overflow from said inner cup, said cups lying in the space between said center post and hollow column, and conduit means disposed in the upper end of said agitator for filling said inner cup.

9. In an automatic washer of the vertical axis centrifugal extraction and agitator type, a spin tub having a hollow center post, an agitator shaft extending through the center post, an agitator mounted on the upper end of said shaft and having a depending open bottom hollow column overlying said center post in radial spaced relation, (an annular upwardly facing cup atfixed to said center post having an outer over-flow rim, an inwardly facing open bottom cup surrounding said upwardly facing cup and rim and adapted to receive centrifugal overflow from said inner cup, said inwardly facing cup having an upper inwardly and downwardly directed annular flange spaced from the center post and extending radially over and 20 niwardly of the overflow rim, said cups lying in the space between said center post and hollow column, and conduit means disposed in the upper end of said agitator for filling said inner cup by discharge upon the inwardly facing cup flange.

10. In an automatic washer of the vertical axis. centrifugal extraction and agitator'type, a spin tub having a hollow center post, an agitator shaft extending through the center post, an agitator mounted on the upper end of said shaft and having a depending open bottom hollow column overlying said center post in radial spaced relation, an annular upwardly facing inner cup a'fiixed to said center post having an outer overflow rim, and an outer inwardly facing open bottom cup surrounding said upwardly facing cup and rim and adapted to receive centrifugal overflow from said inner cup, said outer cup having an upper inwardly and downwardly extending annular flange spaced from the center post and extending radially over and down into and below the rim of the inner cup, said cups lying in the space between said center post and hollow column, and conduit means disposed in the upper end of said agitator for filling said inner cup by discharge upon the outer cup flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

2. IN AN AUTOMATIC WASHER TREATMENT AGENT DISPENSER, AN AGITATOR HAVING A HOLLOW CENTRAL COLUMN CLOSED AT THE TOP AND OPEN AT THE LOWER END, AN INNER UPWARDLY FACING CUP MOUNTED WITHIN SAID COLUMN HAVING A CENTRIFUGAL DISCHARGE RIM, AN ANNULAR INWARDLY FACING OUTER CUP DISPOSED WITHIN SAID COLUMN AND AROUND SAID FIRST NAMED CUP AND THE RIM THEREOF, THE UPPER END OF SAID OUTER CUP BEING CLOSED AND THE LOWER END OPEN TO FORM AN AIR BELL, AND A FILL CONDUIT FOR SAID INNER CUP EXTENDING THROUGH THE UPPER 